Posts by Juan Viejo2

10

"The Hobbit" in 3-D

by compound complex in

jw
friends

wow!.

the fantasy world of tolkien/jackson hit me in the face!

if you saw the film, please share your thoughts.. thanks.. coco.

Juan Viejo2

My wife and I saw "The Hobbit" and found it enjoyable and entertaining. Got us out of the house and helped me clear my mind of all this JW fantasy stuff.

We saw it in 3-D and the effects are quite amazing. We have a 3-D 55" TV at home, so like "Avatar" we will probably see it several times over the next few years - just because it is 3-D.

If you accept it as fantasy in the same way you do a James Bond movie or "guy in loin cloth and a sword takes on a herd of T-rexes, kills them all, isn't scratched or out of breath, and is ready to take on the Transformers from outer space waiting for him around the next corner - then you will enjoy it.

I found in hard to keep all of the various good trolls, dwarfs, elves, bad trolls and assorted other disfigured monsters with unlimited resources straight in my head. You simply have to suspend your beliefs as far as what damage a human/dwarf body can take, how far down a cliff someone can fall without breaking a bone, and how a sword that is less than 3 feet long can decapitate a creature with a neck 10 feet thick. Don't ask questions or let science or reality creep into your movie enjoyment.

Oh, damn!!! Did I just give it all away? Damn me all to hell!!!!!

I guess I'm just getting old...

"Skyfall," on the other hand was totally believable.

JV

30

John Cedars Starting A Cult-Free Europe Radio?

by Scott77 in

jw
friends

most of us know that mad sweeney's cult free radio started in the united states has been a resounding success judging by listenship.

my question is,can mr cedars replicate this success with a cult-free radio europe?

any chances of success?

Juan Viejo2

There are some relatively low cost microphone applications that will change your voice as you record. It's between the microphone and the output. Something like that would change your voice enough to disguise it for a Cult Free type podcast.

JV

29

what is the earliest age you heard someone get Baptised?

by enigma1863 in

i was curious what is the youngest age any jw has been baptised.

i thought it was hypocritical for jws to say wait for marriage because its such a big deal but "why wait to get baptised".

i think my step sister was 11 years old.

Juan Viejo2

Nancy J. Sage was baptized when she was 7 at the St. Louis assembly when J F Rutherford gave his children speech. She tells about it in her book, Going Undercover...

I was 9 or 10 when I was baptized and there were several kids much younger than me getting baptized at that same time.

JV

49

Republican Party is pretty much done!

by free2beme in

jw
friends

after leaving the jehovah's witnesses, i started getting in to politics.

i naturally found myself going republican and voted a long those lines.

however, with my more pagan nature and being pretty much against christianity.

Juan Viejo2

My experience with former JWs living in the USA is this:

Ex-JWs who do not take up a new religion and either remain nominal Christians, agnostics, or atheists, will tend to be Democrats, very moderate Republicans, or independents.

Ex-JWs who wrap themselves in conservative churches (Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, Catholic, Presbyterian, etc) or evangelical (Southern Baptists, Pentecostal, independent churches founded by self-appointed pastors, and so-called community churches that are almost always evangelical) tend to be Republicans - often of the Tea Party variety.

We have a fair smattering of both types on this discussion forum. It is relatively easy to identify who is who and which way they lean.

I also know a few former JWs who stick to their guns and remain totally neutral politically - figuring that all politicians (and their parties) are inherently corrupt and only looking out for their biggest contributors.

JV

24

HELP!!! Need Contacts in Portland-Gresham Oregon

by Juan Viejo2 in

a very special request for help - not money - just information!!!.

i normally would not ask this kind of a favor, but this really is important.. i am working with portland area investigators and journalists who are doing research on the whitney heichel /jonathan holt murder case and one other case involving other serious criminal activity.

they are particularly interested in anyone who might have attended kingdom halls in or around gresham and might know some of the members, former jws, or other related contacts in that area.. if you are from that area, or have connections there, please contact me via pm.

Juan Viejo2

Thanks for bumping this, Blinders...

I'm sorry to report that I got no usable leads. I did get one phone call from someone who wanted to meet me. I didn't like the way the call went and he somehow got my number out of the phone book. I never use that phone except for outgoing calls when my cell phone minutes are running out. Nothing seemed right so I turned the guy down. I didn't mention anything to my wife about that call - it would have freaked her out.

Other than that, nothing. I do know that the reporters do have a few additional leads and are trying to get the local JWs to talk, but they are pretty much clamped down at the moment.

We'll just have to wait until the Angela Montgomery child rape case is reported on in Tennessee and then maybe other will decide to step in and give us more information because of her connection to the Gresham KH.

JV

41

Menlo Park Legal Advisor Tells All

by Juan Viejo2 in

someone sent me a link to the anoninsurrection youtube page.

i found eleven videos documenting an interview with the legal advisor for the former menlo park kingdom hall elders.

you can find them here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=plszmu_qv0dgtco2wl5bnjdx12ny2_cmoo .. i've also published the entire set of eleven along with my comments on ex-jw.com.

Juan Viejo2

Chaserious -

To answer your questions:

1. I am confident that the man in the video is who he claims to be. There are several reasons for this, but I am pledged not to reveal those details. I've never had the opportunity to meet "John Steele" in person. Perhaps Balaamsass and Devil_Fish can step in here and confirm as they are familiar with this congregation and its members.

2. You should not be too critical of the fact that these fellows did not have a lawyer. My understanding is that John Steele, while not being an attorney or paralegal, did have a great deal of experience in preparing legal filings and understood court procedures. As Balaamsass states above, they are basically " window washers and a carpenter" - which is not true in the strictest sense - but gives you a clue as to their income availability. They really crippled their case by making it clear that they never were in the fight for the money - it was all about principle and revealing the facts. Attorneys, unless they are associated with a volunteer / non-profit organization like ACLU or Americans United for Church and State, work for pay. They will often take a case as long as they can see the possibility of winning and sharing in the proceeds, but there are few that will take on an extended case with no hope of having at least their costs reimbursed.

3. Perhaps Balaamsass can speak to the "tickets and trumped up charges" issue. Bruce Raditich is well known in the area as being a JW security consultant. The plaintiffs and John Steele (and the fellow run off the road) all had situations where at random times while away from home they would encounter elders and other JWs at unusual times and places for no apparent reason. This type of acitivity is mentioned both in these videos and in the court documents. The number of incidents became too common just to be random encounters and in most cases there were several unrelated JWs together in odd places like a drug store or shopping together at a WalMart. While this could happen on very rare occasions, the number of incidents these fellows and their families experienced are well above the norm of chance and circumstance. This is not the first time I have been told stories of WT "close surveillance." Also, several of my anonymous contacts told me that they were using "throw away" phones to call me because they were afraid that their cell phones were being tapped or they were being followed by "GPS." Paranoia? Perhaps - but very possible, especially when you have a brother down the road experienced in electronic surveillance and landline tapping.

4. About John Steele's assertion that he was banned from Canada? This is more frequent than you might guess. Since 9/11, the Canadian border patrol has a database that flags the entry points with any claims or suspicions that someone crossing over might have a criminal history or is currently being charged with even a misdemeanor. I know individuals who tried to cross over to Vancouver and never made it because the border patrol found an old entry on the database. I believe when this happens that they do give the person a form or information packet that tells them how to get these issues resolved. I personally know of one person who flew into Canada and then was immediately turned around and sent back because of bogus information on the Canadian database that ties into the FBI criminal database. Steele mentions that his rejection was due to some old misdemeanor charges.

JV

37

Anonymous Message (YouTube) to Jehovah's Witnesses: #OpWatchtower - January 18, 2013

by jwleaks in

january 18, 2013. latest message from anonymous on #opwatchtower by anoninsurrection.. 700mb of files available at par:anoia.main directory of files in zip format.

.

Juan Viejo2

tru -

Go back and do what I suggested. All of the documents and subpoenas involving the deed and the bank statements are included in the court documents that are found on Ex-JW.com. Go check them out.

In the State lawsuit there are documents and testimony about how the bank statements, the official corporation papers, and other documents were all messed with and changed outside of the legal guidelines. There are exhibits (including some of the bank documents) included.

At this point you are just showing your ignorance. I don't want to be too harsh, but you should be embarrassed making assertions that are clearly discounted by available public domain court documents and exhibits.

JV

41

Menlo Park Legal Advisor Tells All

by Juan Viejo2 in

someone sent me a link to the anoninsurrection youtube page.

i found eleven videos documenting an interview with the legal advisor for the former menlo park kingdom hall elders.

you can find them here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=plszmu_qv0dgtco2wl5bnjdx12ny2_cmoo .. i've also published the entire set of eleven along with my comments on ex-jw.com.

Juan Viejo2

Please note that video 11 was a duplicate and has been removed from the gallery at Ex-JW.com

Irondork -

Go back and read my previous post. These elders just stood up for the truth. Yes, they were somewhat afraid of being harrassed and retaliated against, bu that did not stop them from doing what they felt was right. On the other hand, many in the congregation were afraid on several levels - AND STILL ARE!

You can have your own opinion, but perhaps you should first read some of the documentation before you discount "John Steele" and his story.

Read the three posts that cover the former primary overseer's (COBE) deposition and also the article about the state court case. Then share your opinion with this discussion group.

Ignorance may be bliss, but knowledge is the basis of life.

JV

41

Menlo Park Legal Advisor Tells All

by Juan Viejo2 in

someone sent me a link to the anoninsurrection youtube page.

i found eleven videos documenting an interview with the legal advisor for the former menlo park kingdom hall elders.

you can find them here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=plszmu_qv0dgtco2wl5bnjdx12ny2_cmoo .. i've also published the entire set of eleven along with my comments on ex-jw.com.

Juan Viejo2

trujw -

I frankly don't give a damn if you want to "call BS." What you call it means nothing to me or anyone else close to the case. You obviously have not taken the time to read the documents or watch all the videos I've provided.

Take 15 minutes and go watch videos 8, 9 and 10 (especially 10!). In those videos John Steele describes how someone close to the case was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident when someone in a van ran him off the road. Listen to how that person's family was harrassed. I've spoken to that person and know that this is true and, in fact is much more involved and far worse than Steele describes in these videos.

I also know that many within the Kingdom Hall felt threatened - if not physically, then by intimidation. Many of the JWs attending the Menlo Park KH before the merger were firmly supportive of the elders and were shocked when they were accused of embezzling KH funds (this is after the plaintiffs discovered that funds had disappeared from accounts after they were removed!). I spoke to several anonymous members that they knew that these faithful elders had gotten a raw deal and had been set up. But none of these other brothers and sisters felt that they could come out and make a stand without being disfellowshipped themselves. A couple of these anonymous contacts indicated that many of the minority members of the congregation felt that they were being watched and under suspicion because two of the plaintiffs were African-American.

There is no doubt in my mind that many within that congregation felt intimidated and fearful - and still do to this day. The lawsuit may be over, but the damage done continues and still affects many who are fearful that even the slightest show of support for the former elders will result in severe punishment from the religion they have devoted their lives to.

JV

41

Menlo Park Legal Advisor Tells All

by Juan Viejo2 in

someone sent me a link to the anoninsurrection youtube page.

i found eleven videos documenting an interview with the legal advisor for the former menlo park kingdom hall elders.

you can find them here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=plszmu_qv0dgtco2wl5bnjdx12ny2_cmoo .. i've also published the entire set of eleven along with my comments on ex-jw.com.

Juan Viejo2

I'd also like to point out that even though I was covering this case on Ex-JW.com, I received no support from the plaintiffs or "John Steele" - the legal advisor on this case.

I did have a contact who was close to the case, but not a JW and not one of the plaintiffs. He was very helpful and kept me in the loop as he could. I might mention that this person found himself and his family in great risk and placed in threatening situations on several occasions. I know that "John Steele" and one of the plaintiffs also felt personally threatened and had to leave the Bay area for a time due to fear for their safety.

In addition to the one contact I had mentioned above, I also received anonymous emails and phone calls from members of the Menlo Park Kingdom Hall and those close to them - plus some from nearby Kingdom Halls. There were a few from that area that post here regularly (you know who you are - and thank you!!!) that also fed me information.

The problem from a journalistic point of view is that unless I could communicate directly with the plaintiffs and their legal advisor, everything I reported (other than the public domain court documents) was "hearsay." There is nothing so frustrating for a reporter than to be unable to interview the princiipals in a story. As I mentioned before, that is why the local reporter following this case was pulled off the story by her editor after many weeks of following the story.

Once again I would suggest that anyone here that has an interest in this story should go to Ex-JW.com and read all of the articles and court documents I've provided. I guarantee that you will learn enough about what happened there during 2010-2012 to decide for yourself if the case the elders put forth at great risk to themselves and their families had any merit - or not.

I also heard from dozens of contacts around the US that similar situations occured in their Kingdom Halls. But in all of those cases the elders simply rolled over and took the Watchtower's demands and gave up the rights and equity of the local congregation members. They all felt that they had no choice and did not want to face the possibility of losing their elder positions or being disfellowshipped as was the case with the three elders in Menlo Park that took a stand.

JV